The Trump administration has said it wants to pull apart Russia and China, but the two countries need each other too much.

Russia marks on Friday the 80th anniversary of the Soviet and allied victory over Nazi Germany, though there are fears that Ukraine may seek to disrupt the most hallowed celebration in the Russian calendar.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Moscow for a four-day state visit, his 11th to Russia, in a show of strategic solidarity with President Vladimir Putin. The visit is seen as a significant diplomatic boost for Russia as it seeks to counter claims of international isolation following its ongoing war in Ukraine.